Changing culture through interdisciplinary STEM learning

By Scott Bennett

August 28th, 2019

Learn how this school focused on STEM learning across the board to engage students and shed light on real-world STEM connections

As content-driven curricula are rapidly giving way to programming aimed at developing core competencies, educators are incorporating standards–such as those developed by ISTE–to reframe their programs to emphasize digital citizenship, innovative design, computational thinking and global connectedness to prepare students for careers that do not yet exist.

However, the process of implementing deep change may take three to five years, because it impacts the way schools do business, as well as fundamental school culture.

At West Island College (WIC), a university preparatory school for Grades 7-12 in Calgary, Alberta, we are leveraging the expertise of STEM Learning Lab to lead this shift within our school. Our aim is to emphasize computational thinking and computer science skills, ensure math performance is consistent, and incorporate more real-world, interdisciplinary learning.